WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration has dismantled an old program of the Department of Justice which helps low-income immigrants have competent and affordable legal representation on immigration issues, as reported by CBS News.
The Recognition and Accreditation (R&A) Program, which has been in operation for more than 60 years, accredits workers from legal defense organizations, who are not lawyers, to assist immigrants in most immigration procedures.
The goal of the initiative is to increase the availability of “competent” immigration legal representation for low-income and indigent individuals, thereby promoting effective and efficient administration of justice, according to the US Department of Justice.
However, multiple sources related to the matter told the television station that The lawyers assigned to the program were transferred last week to the Immigration courtsleaving only two support people who do not have the authority to grant accreditations.
Program will not be abolished
Under this initiative, which is part of the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), some 2,600 advocates from community organizations, such as Catholic Charities and Jewish Family Services, have been accredited to provide advice to low-income foreigners who have pending procedures with the immigration authorities.
A Trump Administration official denied to the television station that the program was going to be abolished, since it is an initiative established by regulation.
The Trump Administration has already adopted several measures that make it difficult or even more restrictive for immigrants to advance through the legal immigration system.
